Thanks for the heads up. I was gonna find a set of 18" and appropriately sized tires (225/50/18 ... but no real good options in that size except the Blizzaks)

Here is what my research of tires available around the same rolling circumference as 225/50/18 (ie less than 3% difference):

- Nokian hakkapeliitta 2 (235/50/18)
- Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 (225/50/18)
- Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2 (245/45/18)
- Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme (235/50/18)

More tires that I found to work: (updated July 1, 2008)

- Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D (235/50/18)
- Dunlop Winter Sport M3 (235/50/18)
- Michelin X-Ice (235/50/18)

Of the 7 listed, I would either choose the Nokian or Vredestein ... they're made in Europe and they know winter. The Michelin Pilot Alpins are a little wider than I would like around all 4 corners of the car. Not to say the Bridgestones are junk, but from what I have read on various tire forums, Bridgestone is known more for summer than for winter tires.


As for an 'all-season' tire but has the snowflake (ie winter driving) symbol on it:
- Nokian WR (235/50/18)

I've used the Nokian WR on my previous Acura TL-S ... I think it was great for southeastern Michigan / southwestern Ontario driving. Mind you, I was using 205/50/17 tires (on 17" OEM rims) and they worked well. I can only extrapolate how good the handling / snow traction it would be on a 235 width tire.

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Bottomline: I'll see the prices I can score on the tires and choose from there. I am definitely buying from the US since Canadian prices are ridiculous!

 

it is ridiculous! ^^

 

Anyone drive through snow with the OEM 18's with the All Seasons on the Base and Journey Pkg?

 

I have the Vredestein's on my G and they are awesome in the cold and snow. I never had a problem with them. They are pricey, but well worth the money.

 

Sunny, I was being sarcastic with my comment. Enjoy your lack of humor.

As for the other guys, this car is not meant to be driven in the snow. Just make sure to take it easy out there. Even in the "banana belt" it can be dangerous. Like I said before, good luck.

 

Even though the OEM 18s are supposed to be "All Season", they're really not (unless there's no snow where you live). Overall, they're still high performance tires despite the "All Season" designation. They suck in snow, not worth your life to find out the hard way.

 

I have the 18" Blizzaks on aftermarket rims and they are OK, but the G just isn't a winter car, uphill starts in snow are really painfull, got stuck a couple of times

I put 4 50lbs tube sandbags in the trunk and that helped a lot.

Steve

 

Update ... I added 3 more winter tires that work (235/50/18) for the G.

I am now leaning toward the Michelin X-Ice since I know people with them (not on the G) and say the wear is good and they are widely available. I will still buy them in the US ...

 

On TireRack.com they give you the total cost including duties, shipping, etc so there are no surprises when the final bill arrives.

 

^ True ... but how about installing them on the car on the US side and driving them home. Why does Canada Customs need to know you are riding on new tires?

I might just store my 19" OEM rims in a friend's basement and bring back one at a time to avoid PST + GST. Problem solved.

 

the tire specs are 225/50/18, that size has a limited choice.

would these sizes fit on the rim :
225/45R18 91T or
225/55R18 98T or
245/40R18 93T or
245/45R18 96T

these are the only sizes in 18"s for a model of tires I like.

 

I have serious question the smallest rim size for my 08 g37S. since the dealership always recommend 18" rim with snow tires will clear the brembo calipers. Some salesmen even say the minimum size should be 18". I automatically think 18" is the smallest for my car until today; a rim shop said 17" rim work for my car, and it can save me $500 than getting 18" rims. I wonder any of you have experience to share with this newbie

 

There's noway 17s will fit over the brakes on a G37S; some 18s may not necessarily clear them either. I've seen some forum member's 18s clear the brakes by about 1mm, which is way too close for comfort.

The brakes on them aren't Brembo anymore, btw.

 

Oh.. I am dying after reading this post. Probably the best advice yet. Had a Olds RWD cutlass back in late 70s in upstate NY no less. No chains, no snow tires (don't remember what junk was on there) but I put a big *** 125 pound sack in the back. Now one day drove in a effin blizzard from Elmira, NY through the Catskill mountains down to NYC. The 4.5 hour trip today took me 8.5 hours but I never had a problem (went slow though). Also, NO traction control!! And I had that car in Pgh for 5 years with those hills!!!!!

Today I get so freaked out with the snow that I have to make sure I have got traction and slip control and killer snows but when I think back during those college years when I did not have all these concerns- life was better.
Anyway I do plan to put a sack in the back AND add snows on to my g37s.

 

^ I'm still debating over this ... doing more research and added that Nokian has a new "all-climate" tire:

Nokian WR G2 (235/50/18) ... apparently, Nokian won't release a tire unless it is 10% "better" than the previous model. I'm getting a quote for $248/tire for these WR G2. Order those, mount them with some TireRack rims ... gonna cost me a shade under US$1700 shipped to my US mailing address. Pricey! But where I live, the tires will last a lot longer than a pure dedicated snow tire since it can reach upper 40s in the middle of winter! (And heat / highway driving can burn up soft tire compound found on snow/winter tires ...) And more importantly, I can rotate the tires (front <-> back) so I won't have to change a set of 4 so quickly!

PS For the previous poster with varying tire sizes, it's most often recommended to go with a "narrower" tire such that you increase traction (greater force per square inch ... since same weight on smaller tire patch contact with road). Perhaps why Nissan/Infiniti recommends a 225/50/18 over a 235/50/18 or even worse ... 245/45/18 ... (WOW!)